Vehicular display device

Abstract

To perform desired display to the outside of a vehicle by eliminating or reducing missing of a display image due to a light shielding body on an optical path.SOLUTION: A vehicular display device includes: first and second load projectors 31, 32 which radiate each radiation light to display a projection image Ip to the outside of a vehicle C; and a control section which controls the projectors. The control section detects a light shielding body X positioned on an optical path of first irradiation light L1 of the first load projector 31, predicts a non-display region Rh of the projection image Ip generated by shielding the first radiation light L1 by the light shielding body according to a detection result, and coordinately controls the first and second load projectors 31, 32 so that the non-display region Rh is not generated or is generated to be reduced by a complementary image displayed by second radiation light L2 from the second load projector 32.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a display device for a vehicle that is mounted in a vehicle and performs a desired display. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a display device as described in, for example, Patent Document 1. This display device projects a holographic reproduction image or the like onto a road surface or the like from a projector mounted on a vehicle, thereby displaying predetermined information to vehicles traveling around the vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6344545 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the display device used in the display device of the above-mentioned conventional technology, when an object is present on the optical path, the display image is lost in the area on the opposite side of the object from the display device, resulting in an incomplete display image. In particular, when a display image showing a warning display or the like is lost, serious problems can occur.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a display device for a vehicle that can display the desired image outside the vehicle by eliminating or reducing loss of the display image caused by objects in the optical path. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention relates to a vehicle display device 1 provided in a vehicle C, the display device 1 including a plurality of projection units 3 (31, 32, 33) each of which emits light beams L1 and L2 for displaying a predetermined image Ip outside the vehicle C, and a control unit 50 for controlling the plurality of projection units 3 (31, 32, 33). The control unit 50 includes a light shielding body detection process (S1 to S3) for detecting a light shielding body X located on an optical path of the light beams L1 emitted from one projection unit 31 of the plurality of projection units 3 (31, 32, 33), and a control unit 50 for controlling the plurality of projection units 3 (31, 32, 33). In response to the received information, an area prediction process S5 is executed to predict a non-display area Rh that will be generated in the specified image Ip when the light shielding body blocks the irradiation light L1 from one of the projection units 31, and a coordinated projection process (S6, S8) is executed to control the multiple projection units in coordination so that the non-display area Rh is not generated or is reduced in size in the specified image Ip by a complementary image Ic that is displayed by irradiating the irradiation light L2 from other projection units 32, 33 among the multiple projection units. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, even if an object is present on the optical path of the light irradiated from one projection unit, causing a non-display area such as a shadow (shadow) to appear on the opposite side of the object from the one projection unit, a complementary image is generated using the light irradiated from another projection unit, and the complementary image is used to fill in the non-display area, thereby eliminating or reducing the non-display area. As a result, the display content produced by the light irradiated from the one projection unit can be reliably transmitted. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an overall system configuration of a vehicle display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a CPU of the vehicle display device according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 5A to 5C are diagrams showing a process of detecting a light blocking object and a projected display using a first irradiation light from a first road projector in the first embodiment. [Figure 4]1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a projected display in a state where the first irradiation light from the first road projector is not irradiated onto a light blocking body and is irradiated onto a light blocking body in the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a case where projection and display are performed using only the second irradiation light from the second road projector in the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a case where a projected display is performed using light emitted from a first road projector and a second road projector in the first embodiment. [Figure 7] 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a CPU in the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a case where a projected display is performed using a first irradiation light from a first road projector in the second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a case where projection and display are performed using only the second irradiation light from the second road projector in the second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a case where a projected display is performed using light emitted from a first road projector and a second road projector in the second embodiment. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a CPU in the second embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a case where a projected display is performed using a first irradiation light from a first road projector in the third embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a case where projection and display are performed using only the second irradiation light from the second road projector and the third road projector in the third embodiment. [Figure 14] 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a CPU in the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] (First embodiment of the present invention) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. A vehicle display device 1 according to this embodiment is mounted on various vehicles C, such as private cars, commercial vehicles, and buses, and performs road projection display, displaying a predetermined image on the road surface near the vehicle C.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the overall system configuration of a vehicle display device according to this embodiment. In Fig. 1, the vehicle display device 1 includes an exterior camera 2 that captures an image of the vicinity of a vehicle C, a plurality of road projectors 3 (projection units) that project and display a predetermined image on a road surface near the vehicle C, a touch panel 4 that displays, for example, navigation information and various content information and receives control commands from a user regarding the projection display of the road projectors 3, and a control unit 5 that controls the entire vehicle display device 1. The road projector 3 is an example of the projection unit.

[0011] The exterior camera 2 captures an image of a predetermined imaging area Ac which is in the outer direction of the vehicle C and which includes at least the projection area Ap to be displayed by road projection, and transmits imaging information 20 to the control unit 5. Note that the imaging area Ac of the exterior camera 2 and the projection area Ap of the road projector 3 may be made to coincide with each other, and the scales of the imaging area Ac and the projection area Ap on the road surface in terms of the control settings may also be made to coincide with each other, thereby making it possible to omit the coordinate conversion process between the coordinate system of the imaging area Ac and the coordinate system of the projection area Ap.

[0012] A plurality of road projectors 3 are provided on the front and rear bumpers, left and right doors, and around the side mirrors of the vehicle C, for example, and irradiate light for displaying a predetermined projection image Ip in the projection area Ap. The projection image Ip (predetermined image) projected and displayed by the road projector 3 may be a design image or may be a monochromatic light such as a simple white light. The road projector 3 is also capable of turning off the irradiation light or adjusting the light amount (brightness) at any coordinate position in the projection area Ap based on the control of the control unit 5 described later. The projection image Ip is an example of a predetermined image.

[0013] The touch panel 4 is a device that is arranged, for example, on an instrument panel in front of the driver of the vehicle C, and is configured by combining a liquid crystal display and a touch pad. Note that the liquid crystal display is capable of displaying image information 20 captured by the exterior camera 2.

[0014] The control unit 5 is a computer equipped with a CPU 50 (control unit) and a memory 60, and is disposed, for example, in an instrument panel. The CPU 50 is connected to other devices via a bus 65, and is capable of, for example, inputting image information 20 captured by the exterior camera 2 and outputting various control information 70 for the road projector 3 to perform projection display. The CPU 50 is also capable of outputting various display information to the touch panel 4 and inputting various operation information. The CPU 50 is an example of a control unit.

[0015] The CPU 50 controls the entire vehicle display device 1 by executing various programs stored in advance while utilizing the storage function of the memory 60. The memory 60 is a storage device equipped with a RAM and a ROM, not shown. The various programs include a program for executing a processing procedure shown in FIG. 7, which will be described later. Note that the control unit 5 and each component may be connected via a communication interface such as a CAN (Controller Area Network), or may be electrically connected via a hard wire.

[0016] The processing contents of the CPU 50 will be described below using a specific example. Here, the vehicle exterior camera 2 is disposed at the center position of the rear bumper of the vehicle C, and captures an image of the imaging area Ac toward the rear side of the vehicle C. The first road projector 31 (one projection unit, first projection unit) and the second road projector 32 (the other projection unit, second projection unit) are disposed at the left end position and the right end position of the rear bumper of the vehicle C, respectively, and display an arrow image indicating the traveling direction of the vehicle C in the projection area Ap toward the rear side of the vehicle C by road projection. Then, a case will be described in which the CPU 50 controls the road projection display of the first road projector 31 and the second road projector 32 in cooperation with each other based on the imaging information 20 of the vehicle exterior camera 2. At this time, it is assumed that a light shielding body X is disposed at a position that blocks at least a part of the first irradiation light L1 irradiated by the first road projector 31. The first road projector 31 is an example of one projection unit and a first projection unit, and the second road projector 32 is an example of another projection unit and a second projection unit.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the CPU 50 in the vehicle display device 1 according to this embodiment, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the process of detecting a light-blocking body X, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a projected display using the first irradiation light L1 of the first road projector 31, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a projected display using the second irradiation light L2 of the second road projector 32, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a projected display using the irradiation light of each of the first road projector 31 and the second road projector 32.

[0018] In FIG. 2, the CPU 50 receives as input information the imaging information 20 captured by the exterior camera 2 and the illumination information 30 relating to the illumination light representing the images to be projected and displayed by each road projector 3, and receives as output information a control signal for controlling each road projector 3, and performs the following processing.

[0019] The CPU 50 includes a light blocking object detection unit 51 that performs a process (light blocking object detection process) of detecting a light blocking object X blocking the first irradiation light L1 of the first road projector 31 based on the image information 20 captured by the outside-vehicle camera 2 and irradiation information 30 related to the first irradiation light L1 representing the projection image Ip projected and displayed by the first road projector 31, an irradiation range adjustment processing unit 52 that performs a process (irradiation range adjustment process) of adjusting the irradiation range of each irradiation light (first irradiation light L1 and second irradiation light L2) of the first road projector 31 and the second road projector 32 based on the irradiation information 30 so that the detected light blocking object X is not hit by the respective irradiation lights, and The projection image Ip to be displayed by road projection is provided with an area prediction processing unit 53 that performs a process (area prediction process) of predicting an area that will be lost due to the light shielding body X in the projection image Ip to be displayed by road projection based on the illumination information 30, a coordination processing unit 54 that performs a process (coordinated projection process) of outputting control information 70 for controlling the illumination light of the first road projector 31 and the second road projector 32 in coordination so as to complement the area that will be lost due to the light shielding body X based on the illumination information 30, and a light intensity adjustment processing unit 55 that performs a process (first light intensity adjustment process) of adjusting the light intensity of the illumination light of each of the first road projector 31 and the second road projector 32 based on the illumination information 30.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 3, the light blocking object detection unit 51 performs image analysis on the image information 20 captured by the exterior camera 2 of the road surface behind the vehicle C, and detects whether or not a light blocking object X that blocks at least a part of the first irradiation light L1 irradiated by the first road projector 31 exists, and if so, detects the area where the light blocking object X exists (the outline of the light blocking object X). The light blocking object X includes, for example, an object or a person, and is located on the optical path of the first irradiation light L1 irradiated by the first road projector 31 and is detected as an obstacle that blocks at least a part of the first irradiation light L1. The image analysis process for detecting the presence or absence of the light blocking object X and the area where the light blocking object X exists can be performed using a known method such as a foreign object detection process or an object detection process that utilizes so-called deep learning such as a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN).

[0021] When the light shielding body detector 51 detects the light shielding body X, as shown in FIG. 4A, the irradiation range adjustment processor 52 controls the first road projector 31 so that the first irradiation light L1 of the first road projector 31 is not irradiated to the light shielding body X. That is, the irradiation range adjustment processor 52 adjusts the irradiation range of the first irradiation light L1 of the first road projector 31 so as to turn off the first irradiation light L1 of the area corresponding to the area where the light shielding body X exists. Note that at this time, the first irradiation light L1 is controlled to be turned off in an area that includes the entire area where the light shielding body X exists and corresponds to an area slightly wider than this area by a margin. By adjusting the irradiation range taking the margin area into consideration, it is possible to prevent the first irradiation light L1 of the first road projector 31 from being irradiated to the light shielding body X, for example, even when the light shielding body X moves at high speed.

[0022] The processing of the irradiation range adjustment processing unit 52 may be omitted. That is, as shown in FIG. 4B, even if a light blocking body X is detected, the first irradiation light L1 of the first road projector 31 may be directly irradiated onto the light blocking body X. In addition, if the light blocking body detection unit 51 can detect the type of the light blocking body X as well, the processing of the irradiation range adjustment processing unit 52 may be selectively executed according to the type of the light blocking body X. For example, if a living thing such as a person or a reflector that reflects light is detected as the light blocking body X, it is desirable that the first irradiation light L1 of the first road projector 31 is not irradiated onto the light blocking body X. Therefore, the processing of the above-mentioned irradiation range adjustment processing unit 52 may be executed as shown in FIG. 4A, and if an object that does not cause any problem even if the first irradiation light L1 is hit is detected as the light blocking body X, the processing of the irradiation range adjustment processing unit 52 may be omitted as shown in FIG. 4B.

[0023] When the first road projector 31 adjusts the irradiation range of the first irradiation light L1 of the first road projector 31 as shown in Fig. 4(A) or performs projection display without adjustment as shown in Fig. 4(B), the presence of the light shielding body X causes a non-display area Rh to be generated in the projection image Ip projected and displayed by the first road projector 31. That is, in the case of Fig. 4(A), the first irradiation light L1 is turned off in the area corresponding to the area where the light shielding body X exists, so the projection image Ip is not displayed in the area where the first irradiation light L1 is turned off, and a non-display area Rh is generated. In the case of Fig. 4(B), the first irradiation light L1 is irradiated to the area where the light shielding body X exists, but the projection image Ip is not displayed in the part shaded by the light shielding body X, and a non-display area Rh is generated. The area prediction processing unit 53 calculates and predicts the non-display area Rh based on the emission position, emission area, optical path, and the existence area (shape and size (width, height)) of the first irradiation light L1 emitted by the first road projector 31.

[0024] The cooperative processing unit 54 controls the first road projector 31 and the second road projector 32 in cooperation with each other so that the non-display area Rh obtained by the area prediction processing unit 53 disappears or is reduced. That is, as shown in Fig. 5, the control information 70 is output so that the second road projector 32 projects and displays a part of the missing projection image Ip that was to be displayed in the non-display area Rh by the first road projector 31 as a complementary image Ic in the non-display area Rh.

[0025] Then, as shown in Fig. 6, the cooperative processing unit 54 executes a road projection display in which the non-display area Rh is eliminated or reduced by simultaneously performing the projection display of the first road projector 31 shown in Fig. 4 and the projection display of the second road projector 32 shown in Fig. 5. In the case of Fig. 6, the non-display area Rh remains in a part of the area behind the light shielding body X as seen from each road projector, but it can be seen that the display is significantly reduced compared to the case of Fig. 4. It is also possible to eliminate the non-display area Rh depending on the position of the light shielding body X and the arrangement positions and number of the road projectors.

[0026] In the projection display of Fig. 6, the light amount adjustment processing unit 55 adjusts the amount of light emitted by each of the first road projector 31 and the second road projector 32. In the example shown in Fig. 6, the amount of light of the first irradiation light L1 of the first road projector 31 and the amount of light of the second irradiation light L2 of the second road projector 32 are adjusted to be substantially the same, so that a projection image Ip without uneven brightness and without a sense of incongruity as a whole can be projected and displayed. Note that the light amount adjustment processing by the light amount adjustment processing unit 55 is not necessarily required.

[0027] Next, the processing procedure of the CPU 50 will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the CPU 50 in the vehicle display device 1 according to this embodiment. When a command to perform road projection display is input, the light blocking object detection unit 51 inputs the image information 20 of the image capturing area Ac captured by the outside-vehicle camera 2 and performs image analysis processing (S1). As a result of the image analysis processing, the light blocking object detection unit 51 determines whether or not there is a light blocking object X blocking at least a part of the first irradiation light L1 on the optical path of the first irradiation light L1 from the first road projector 31 (S2), and if there is a light blocking object X, detects the area where the light blocking object X exists (S3) (light blocking object detection processing). If there is no light blocking object X, the first road projector 31 is controlled to project and display the projection image Ip based on the irradiation information 30 (S9), and the processing ends. The processing from S1 to S3 is an example of the light blocking object detection processing.

[0028] The irradiation range adjustment processing unit 52 adjusts the irradiation range of the first irradiation light L1 of the first road projector 31 so that the first irradiation light L1 of the first road projector 31 is not irradiated on the light shielding body X based on the existing area of ​​the light shielding body X and turns off the first irradiation light L1 of the first road projector 31 in the area corresponding to the existing area of ​​the light shielding body X (S4) (irradiation range adjustment processing). The area prediction processing unit 53 calculates and predicts the non-display area Rh based on the emission position, emission area, optical path, and existing area of ​​the light shielding body X of the first irradiation light L1 irradiated by the first road projector 31 (S5) (area prediction processing). The cooperation processing unit 54 calculates the complementary image Ic to be projected and displayed by the second road projector 32 in the non-display area Rh (S6). The light amount adjustment processing unit 55 adjusts the amount of light of the first irradiation light L1 representing the projection image Ip irradiated by the first road projector 31 and the amount of light of the second irradiation light L2 representing the complementary image Ic irradiated by the second road projector 32 to be substantially the same (S7) (first light amount adjustment processing). The first road projector 31 and the second road projector 32 are controlled to perform projection display with the adjusted light amount (S8) (cooperative projection processing), and the processing ends. The processing of S4 is an example of an irradiation range adjustment processing, the processing of S5 is an example of an area prediction processing, the processing of S7 is an example of a first light amount adjustment processing, and the processing of S6 and S8 are examples of a cooperative projection processing.

[0029] As described above, the process in S4 in which the irradiation range adjustment processing unit 52 adjusts the irradiation range illuminated by the first road projector 31, and the process in S7 in which the light amount adjustment processing unit 55 adjusts the light amount of the first road projector 31 and the light amount of the second road projector 32 may be omitted.

[0030] In addition, in the present embodiment, the case where two road projectors 3, the first road projector 31 and the second road projector 32, are used has been described as an example, but the number of road projectors 3 may be three or more. In this case, it is preferable that the third and subsequent road projectors 3 are disposed at positions that are not on a straight line connecting the other road projectors 3.

[0031] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first road projector 31, the second road projector 32 and the exterior camera 2 are arranged on the rear bumper of the vehicle C as an example, but they may be arranged in front or to the side of the vehicle C, and the projected image Ip may be displayed by road projection in the vicinity of the vehicle C according to their respective arrangements.

[0032] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the detection of the light blocking body X is performed using the vehicle exterior camera 2, but other than the vehicle exterior camera 2, for example, an ultrasonic sensor or LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) may be used.

[0033] In this way, in the vehicle display device according to this embodiment, even if a non-display area Rh occurs in the shadow of a light blocking body X in the optical path of the first irradiation light L1 from the first road projector 31, the non-display area Rh can be eliminated or reduced by projecting and displaying the complementary image Ic by irradiating the second irradiation light L2 from the second road projector 32, which is separate from the light blocking body X, and filling in the non-display area Rh with the complementary image Ic. As a result, the contents of the projection display can be reliably conveyed.

[0034] Also, for example, if it is desirable for the light blocking body X not to irradiate strong light such as a living thing or a reflector, it is possible to protect them by adjusting the irradiation range so that the first irradiation light L1 does not hit them. In that case, even if the irradiation ranges of both irradiation lights are adjusted due to the difference between the irradiation directions of the first road projector 31 and the second road projector 32, the non-display area Rh can be compensated for and eliminated or reduced.

[0035] Furthermore, by making the light amount of the first irradiation light L1 of the first road projector 31 and the light amount of the second irradiation light L2 of the second road projector 32 approximately the same, the portion of the complementary image Ic in which the non-display area Rh is filled with the second irradiation light L2 of the second road projector 32 can be made the same brightness as the other portions of the projection image Ip that are illuminated by the first irradiation light L1 of the first road projector 31, thereby reducing unevenness in brightness.

[0036] (Second embodiment of the present invention) Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the description of this embodiment that overlaps with the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0037] The vehicle display device 1 of the first embodiment is configured so that the second road projector 32 projects and displays a complementary image Ic onto the non-display area Rh of the first road projector 31 determined by the area prediction processing unit 53. However, the vehicle display device 1 of this embodiment adjusts the irradiation range so that the second irradiation light L2 from the second road projector 32 is irradiated to approximately the same range as the first irradiation light L1 from the first road projector 31, including the area of ​​the complementary image Ic, and controls the first road projector 31 and the second road projector 32 in cooperation so that no non-display area Rh is generated or a reduced non-display area Rh is generated by the generation of the complementary image Ic by the second road projector 32.

[0038] The above process will be specifically described with reference to Fig. 8 to Fig. 10. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a case where the first irradiation light L1 of the first road projector 31 is used for projection display, Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a case where the second irradiation light L2 of the second road projector 32 is used for projection display, and Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a case where the irradiation light of the first road projector 31 and the second road projector 32 is used for projection display.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 8, when the light shielding body detection unit 51 detects the light shielding body X, the first road projector 31 irradiates the first irradiation light L1 representing the projection image Ip so that the first irradiation light L1 does not hit the light shielding body X according to the processing result of the irradiation range adjustment processing unit 52. At this time, the area prediction processing unit 53 obtains a non-display area Rh that occurs when the light shielding body X blocks the first irradiation light L1. In addition, in order to perform processing (second light amount adjustment processing) of the light amount adjustment processing unit 55 described later, the area prediction processing unit 53 obtains a first area Re1 (first portion) where the second irradiation light L2 of the first irradiation light L1 is blocked by the light shielding body X. Note that FIG. 8 shows a display state after the processing of the light amount adjustment processing unit 55 described later is executed.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 9, the cooperation processing unit 54 adjusts the irradiation range of the second road projector 32 so that the second irradiation light L2 emitted by the second road projector 32 includes the area of ​​the complementary image Ic that complements the non-display area Rh shown in FIG. 8, and displays a projection image Ip of substantially the same content in substantially the same range as the projection image Ip represented by the first irradiation light L1 emitted by the first road projector 31. At this time, the irradiation range adjustment processing unit 52 adjusts the irradiation range so that the second irradiation light L2 emitted by the second road projector 32 does not hit the light blocking body X. In addition, in order to perform the process (second light amount adjustment process) of the light amount adjustment processing unit 55 described later, the area prediction processing unit 53 obtains a second area Re2 (second part) of the second irradiation light L2 where the first irradiation light L1 is blocked by the light blocking body X. Note that FIG. 9 shows a display state after the process of the light amount adjustment processing unit 55 described later is performed.

[0041] The light amount adjustment processing unit 55 adjusts the amount of light of the first irradiation light L1 irradiated by the first road projector 31 to the first region Re1 shown in Fig. 8 and the amount of light of the second irradiation light L2 irradiated by the second road projector 32 to the second region Re2 shown in Fig. 9 to be substantially the same first light amount (for example, 100% light amount). Also, the light amount of the third region Re3 (region shown by hatching at 45° in Fig. 8) (third part) other than the first region Re1 of the first irradiation light L1 irradiated by the first road projector 31 and the light amount of the fourth region Re4 (region shown by hatching at 135° in Fig. 9) (fourth part) other than the second region Re2 of the second irradiation light L2 irradiated by the second road projector 32 are adjusted to be substantially the same and to be substantially 1 / 2 of the first light amount (for example, 50% light amount). In other words, an area where only either the first road projector 31 or the second road projector 32 emits light has a first light amount, and an area where both the first road projector 31 and the second road projector 32 emit light in an overlapping manner has a second light amount (1 / 2 the first light amount), thereby making it possible to reduce unevenness in the brightness of the projection image Ip in the first area Re1, the second area Re2, and the third area Re3 (also the fourth area Re4).

[0042] As shown in FIG. 10, the first irradiation light L1 from the first road projector 31 and the second irradiation light L2 from the second road projector 32 are irradiated, so that a projection display with no uneven brightness overall is performed while the non-display area Rh is not generated or is reduced.

[0043] Next, the processing procedure of the CPU 50 will be described. Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the CPU 50 in the vehicle display device 1 according to this embodiment. In Fig. 11, the processing from S1 to S3 and S8 is the same as the processing from S1 to S3 and S9 in Fig. 7 in the first embodiment.

[0044] When the presence area of ​​the light blocking body X is detected in S3, the irradiation range adjustment processing unit 52 adjusts the irradiation range of the first irradiation light L1 of the first road projector 31 by turning off the first irradiation light L1 of the area corresponding to the presence area of ​​the light blocking body X so that the first irradiation light L1 of the first road projector 31 is not irradiated to the light blocking body X based on the presence area of ​​the light blocking body X, and adjusts the irradiation range of the second irradiation light L2 of the second road projector 32 by turning off the second irradiation light L2 of the area corresponding to the presence area of ​​the light blocking body X so that the second irradiation light L2 of the second road projector 32 is not irradiated to the light blocking body X (S4). The area prediction processing unit 53 calculates a first area Re1 based on the emission position, emission area, optical path, and area where the light shielding body X is present, etc., of the second irradiation light L2 irradiated by the second road projector 32, and calculates a second area Re2 based on the emission position, emission area, optical path, and area where the light shielding body X is present, etc., of the first irradiation light L1 irradiated by the first road projector 31 (S5).

[0045] The light amount adjustment processing unit 55 adjusts the light amount of the first area Re1 and the third area Re3 irradiated with the first irradiation light L1 of the first road projector 31, and the second area Re2 and the fourth area Re4 irradiated with the second irradiation light L2 of the second road projector 32 (S6) (second light amount adjustment process). The projection display of the first road projector 31 and the projection display of the second road projector 32 are performed with the adjusted light amount (S7), and the process ends. The process of S6 is an example of the second light amount adjustment process.

[0046] In this embodiment, the process of the irradiation range adjustment processing unit 52 in S4 and the process of the light amount adjustment processing unit 55 in S6 may be omitted. When the process of the light amount adjustment processing unit 55 in S6 is omitted, the process of obtaining the first region Re1 and the second region Re2 in S5 may also be omitted.

[0047] In this embodiment, the number of road projectors may be three or more. In this case, the light amount adjustment processing unit 55 may calculate the number of irradiated lights with overlapping projection displays (i.e., the number of road projectors irradiating the irradiated lights) for each area divided by being blocked by the light blocking body X, adjust the ratio of the light amount of the irradiated lights according to the number, and distribute the light so that all areas have the same light amount, thereby eliminating unevenness in brightness.

[0048] In this manner, in the vehicle display device according to this embodiment, the non-display area Rh is eliminated or reduced, so that the contents of the projection display can be transmitted reliably.

[0049] Furthermore, by making the light amount of the first irradiation light L1 onto the first region Re1 and the light amount of the second irradiation light L2 onto the second region Re2 approximately equal, it is possible to make the brightness of the region where only the first irradiation light L1 hits and the brightness of the region where only the second irradiation light L2 hits approximately equal. Furthermore, by making the light amount of the first irradiation light L1 onto the third region Re3 and the light amount of the second irradiation light L2 onto the fourth region Re4 approximately equal and the second light amount (=first light amount×½), when the third region Re3 and the fourth region Re4 are approximately equal, the light amount onto that region (the third region Re3 and the fourth region Re4), i.e., the sum of the light amount by the first irradiation light L1 and the light amount by the second irradiation light L2, can be made approximately equal to that of the first region Re1 and the second region Re2. As a result, the brightness of the projection image Ip in the first region Re1, the second region Re2, and the third region Re3 (also the fourth region Re4) can be made approximately the same, eliminating unevenness in brightness and making it uniform overall.

[0050] (Third embodiment of the present invention) Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that in this embodiment, the description overlapping with the above-mentioned embodiments will be omitted.

[0051] The vehicle display device according to this embodiment includes a first road projector 31, a second road projector 32, and a third road projector 33 (another projection unit, second projection unit), and when a light blocking body X is detected on the optical path of the first irradiation light L1 emitted by the first road projector 31, the first road projector 31 does not irradiate the first irradiation light L1, and instead adjusts the irradiation range of the second irradiation light L2 emitted by the multiple road projectors consisting of the second road projector 32 and the third road projector 33 so that the second irradiation light L2 is irradiated in substantially the same range in different irradiation directions, and controls the first road projector 31, the second road projector 32, and the third road projector 33 in cooperation so that a non-display area Rh is not generated or is generated in a reduced size by the generation of a complementary image Ic by the second irradiation light L2.

[0052] The above process will be specifically described with reference to Fig. 12 and Fig. 13. Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a case where the first irradiation light L1 from the first road projector 31 is used for projection display, and Fig. 13 is a diagram showing a case where the second irradiation light L2 from the second road projector 32 and the third road projector 33 is used for projection display.

[0053] As shown in Fig. 12, when a light shielding body X is present on the optical path of the first irradiation light L1 irradiated by the first road projector 31, the light shielding body detection unit 51 detects the light shielding body X. As shown in Fig. 13, the cooperation processing unit 54 controls the first road projector 31 not to irradiate the first irradiation light L1, and controls the second road projector 32 and the third road projector 33 to irradiate the second irradiation light L2 in cooperation with each other, so that each road projector complements the non-display area Rh with a complementary image Ic, and the non-display area Rh is projected and displayed in a reduced size or eliminated. At this time, the cooperation control of the second road projector 32 and the third road projector 33 may be performed in a manner similar to the cooperation control described in the second embodiment so that the second irradiation light L2 irradiated by each road projector is irradiated in approximately the same range, or the cooperation control of the first road projector 31 and the second road projector 32 described in the first embodiment may be performed.

[0054] Next, a process procedure of the CPU 50 will be described. Fig. 14 is a flowchart showing the process procedure of the CPU 50 in the vehicle display device 1 according to this embodiment. In Fig. 14, the processes from S1 to S3 and S9 are the same as the processes from S1 to S3 and S8 in Fig. 11 in the second embodiment.

[0055] When the area where the light shielding body X is present is detected in S3, the cooperative processing unit 54 turns off the first irradiation light L1 of the first road projector 31 (S4). The irradiation range adjustment processing unit 52 adjusts the irradiation range of the second irradiation light L2 of the second road projector 32 by turning off the second irradiation light L2 of the area corresponding to the area where the light shielding body X is present so that the second irradiation light L2 of the second road projector 32 is not irradiated to the light shielding body X based on the area where the light shielding body X is present, and also adjusts the irradiation range of the second irradiation light L2 of the third road projector 33 by turning off the second irradiation light L2 of the area corresponding to the area where the light shielding body X is present so that the second irradiation light L2 of the third road projector 33 is not irradiated to the light shielding body X (S5). The area prediction processing unit 53 calculates a first area Re1 based on the emission position, emission area, optical path, and area where the light shielding body X is present, etc., of the second irradiation light L2 irradiated by the third road projector 33, and calculates a second area Re2 based on the emission position, emission area, optical path, and area where the light shielding body X is present, etc., of the second irradiation light L2 irradiated by the second road projector 32 (S6).

[0056] The light amount adjustment processing unit 55 adjusts the amount of light in the first area Re1 and the third area Re3 illuminated by the second irradiation light L2 of the second road projector 32, and in the second area Re2 and the fourth area Re4 illuminated by the second irradiation light L2 of the third road projector 33 (S7). The projection display of the second road projector 32 and the projection display of the third road projector 33 are performed with the adjusted amount of light (S8), and the process ends.

[0057] When the light blocking body X is not detected in S2, the projection image Ip is projected and displayed using only the first irradiation light L1 from the first road projector 31, and the second road projector 32 and the third road projector 33 do not irradiate the second irradiation light L2.

[0058] In this embodiment, the number of road projectors may be four or more. In this case, the first road projector 31 may be controlled not to emit the first irradiation light L1, and the other road projectors other than the first road projector 31 may cooperate to project and display such that the non-display area Rh disappears or is reduced.

[0059] In this manner, in the vehicle display device 1 of this embodiment, when a non-display area Rh occurs when a projection display is performed by a single first road projector 31, the projection display by the first road projector 31 is stopped, and the second irradiation light L2 is irradiated from each of multiple other road projectors in different irradiation directions to approximately the same range, thereby realizing a projection display in which the non-display area Rh does not occur or is reduced. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] Ac Imaging area Ap projection area C Vehicle IP Projection Image Ic Complementary image L1 1st irradiation light L2 2nd irradiation light Re1 1st area Re2 2nd area Re3 3rd area Re4 4th area Rh hidden area X Shading Body 1 Vehicle display device 2. Exterior camera 3 Road Projector 4. Touch Panel 20 Imaging Information 30 Irradiation Information 31 First Road Projector 32 2nd Road Projector 33 3rd Road Projector 50 CPU 51 Light blocking object detection unit 52 Irradiation range adjustment processing unit 53 Area prediction processing unit 54 Collaboration Processing Unit 55 Light quantity adjustment processing unit 60 Memory 65 Bus 70 Control Information

Claims

1. A vehicle display device provided in a vehicle, A plurality of projection units each irradiating light for displaying a predetermined image outside the vehicle; A control unit that controls the plurality of projection units; Equipped with The control unit is a light blocking body detection process for detecting a light blocking body located on an optical path of the irradiation light from one of the plurality of projection units; a region prediction process for predicting a non-display region that will be generated in the predetermined image when the light blocking body blocks the irradiation light of the one projection unit in response to detection of the light blocking body in the light blocking body detection process; a cooperative projection process for controlling the plurality of projection units in cooperation with each other so that the non-display area is not generated or the non-display area is generated in a reduced manner in the predetermined image by a complementary image displayed by irradiation of the irradiation light from another projection unit among the plurality of projection units; A display device for a vehicle, comprising:

2. The control unit further includes: In response to detection of the light blocking body in the light blocking body detection process, an illumination range adjustment process is executed to adjust an illumination range of the illumination light from the plurality of projection units so that the illumination light is not illuminated onto the light blocking body.

2. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1.

3. The plurality of projection units include A first projection unit as the one projection unit and a second projection unit as the other projection unit, The control unit is In the light blocking object detection process, the light blocking object located on an optical path of the first irradiation light from the first projection unit is detected, In the region prediction process, a non-display region generated by a light blocking body blocking the first irradiation light of the first projection unit is predicted; In the cooperative projection process, an irradiation range of the second irradiation light from the second projection unit is adjusted so that the second irradiation light is not irradiated to an area other than the area of ​​the complementary image, and the first projection unit and the second projection unit are controlled in cooperation with each other so that the non-display area is not generated or is generated in a reduced size by generation of the complementary image by the second irradiation light.

3. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The control unit further includes: A first light amount adjustment process is performed to adjust the light amount of the first irradiation light and the light amount of the second irradiation light so that they are substantially equal to each other.

4. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 3.

5. The plurality of projection units include A first projection unit as the one projection unit and a second projection unit as the other projection unit, The control unit is In the light blocking object detection process, the light blocking object located on an optical path of the first irradiation light from the first projection unit is detected, In the region prediction process, a non-display region generated by a light blocking body blocking the first irradiation light of the first projection unit is predicted; In the cooperative projection process, an irradiation range of the second irradiation light from the second projection unit is adjusted so that the second irradiation light from the second projection unit is irradiated to a range including the area of ​​the complementary image and substantially the same as that of the first irradiation light from the first projection unit, and the first projection unit and the second projection unit are controlled in cooperation with each other so that the non-display area is not generated or is generated in a reduced manner by generation of the complementary image by the second irradiation light.

3. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The control unit further includes: a first light amount of a first portion of the first irradiation light that is irradiated onto a range where the second irradiation light is blocked by the light blocking body and a second light amount of a second portion of the second irradiation light that is irradiated onto a range where the first irradiation light is blocked by the light blocking body are set to be substantially equal to each other as a first light amount; A second light amount adjustment process is performed to set a light amount of a third portion of the first irradiation light other than the first portion and a light amount of a fourth portion of the second irradiation light other than the second portion to a second light amount that is substantially equal to each other and is substantially half of the first light amount.

6. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 5.

7. The plurality of projection units include a first projection unit as the one projection unit and a plurality of second projection units as the other projection units, The control unit is In the light blocking object detection process, the light blocking object located on an optical path of the first irradiation light from the first projection unit is detected, In the region prediction process, a non-display region generated by a light blocking body blocking the first irradiation light of the first projection unit is predicted; In the cooperative projection process, the first projection unit and the second projection unit are controlled in cooperation with each other so that the non-display area is not generated or is generated in a reduced form by generating the multiple complementary images by the multiple second irradiation lights, while adjusting the irradiation ranges of the second irradiation lights so that the multiple second irradiation lights from the multiple second projection units are irradiated to approximately the same range as each other without irradiating the first irradiation light.

3. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2.

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